Britain was considered an “easy touch” by people traffickers and the facilitators of illegal immigration in 2002, according to classified government files which have just been released. In January 2002 the then home secretary, David Blunkett, wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair about discussions with the French government about the closure of the Sangatte refugee…

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to commit to further public spending under a Labour government amid growing calls from unions for him to back more of their policy priorities. Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Labour leader reaffirmed his defence of the party’s focus on economic responsibility. He said: “What I…

Partygate investigator Sue Gray can start working as chief of staff of the Labour Party from September, six months after resigning from the civil service, Whitehall’s appointments watchdog has said. Gray—who led an investigation into allegations of parties being held in Downing Street in breach of the COVID-19 lockdown rules—accepted a job offer from Labour…

Labour’s energy policy is written by “eco-zealots” who are leading Britain into an energy surrender, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said. The Conservative Party leader accused his counterpart Sir Keir Starmer of allowing the Just Stop Oil group, that stages disruptive protests, to affect Labour’s policies. “Not content with disrupting our summer and cherished sporting…

Labour’s strategy of adding VAT to private school fees has been questioned by a think tank that reported the policy to be based on flawed calculations. According to a 2017 Labour’s document called “Funding Britain’s Future” (pdf), VAT on private school fees would yield £1.6 billion a year, which could be invested in state schools instead….

A Labour MP in Wales has been suspended from the party while an investigation is carried out into “incredibly serious allegations of unacceptable behaviour.” Geraint Davies, 63, has been MP for Swansea West since 2010 but his administrative suspension means he will have the whip removed at Westminster and will sit as an independent while…

Britain’s Labour Party has defended the decision to accept donations from the backer of Just Stop Oil, arguing that it doesn’t affect the party’s views on the activist group. Shadow international trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour had been “extremely clear on our views on Just Stop Oil,” a group that is campaigning to halt…

The Labour Party may give settled EU migrants full voting rights if it wins the next general election, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said. Starmer made the remarks in response to a report by The Sunday Telegraph, which said the opposition leader is prepared to allow settled migrants and 16- and 17-year-olds to vote…

Partygate investigator Sue Gray “declined to make representations” to an investigation into whether she broke the Civil Service Code by accepting a job as chief of staff of the Labour Party, it has emerged. Gray—who led an investigation into allegations of parties being held in Downing Street in breach of the COVID-19 lockdown rules—accepted a…

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer says he “stands by every word” of an attack ad on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak which has led to a backlash within his own party. On Thursday, Labour’s official Twitter account posted a picture of the prime minister and wrote: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children…